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Rheem electric furnaces and air handlers for repair

CPSC Recall #99-061 — February 15, 1999

Recall Summary

Recall Number99-061
Recall DateFebruary 15, 1999
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 135,000
ManufacturerRheem Manufacturing Co., of Fort Smith, Ark.

Where It Was Sold

Rheem sold the furnaces and air handlers nationwide from August 1992 through December 1995 to distributors who
in turn
sold them to heating
ventilating
and air conditioning dealers. The furnaces and air handlers reportedly were sold to consumers for about $600 to $950.

Product

Rheem electric furnaces and air handlers for repair

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Rheem Manufacturing Co., of Fort Smith, Ark., is recalling about 135,000 electric furnaces and air handlers for repair. The heating elements in the electric furnaces and air handlers can disintegrate, and expel small particles of molten metal through the duct system and into the living area of the residence. The molten metal particles can ignite nearby combustibles, presenting a fire hazard to consumers. Rheem has received 16 reports of fires resulting in minor to serious property damage, including one report of a total house fire. No injuries have been reported. Only certain down flow and horizontal installations are involved in this recall. Specifically, only Rheem RBEA, UBEA, WBEA, and WBEMA model electric furnaces and Rheem RBHA, UBHA, WBHA, and WBHMA model electric air handlers with date codes between 3592 and 4595 are part of this recall. The model and date code are on an identification plate affixed to the front of the unit. The date code is the four digits following the letter "M" in the unit's serial number. The first two digits of the date code specifies the week and the last two digits specifies the year. The recalled units have cabinets, which are constructed of sheet steel painted beige or platinum, that house a circulating air blower, electric heating elements, mechanical controls, and an air filter. The physical dimensions of the units are 35 inches in length, 22 inches in depth and in varying widths of 14, 17.5, 21 or 24.5 inches, depending on model size. Rheem sold the furnaces and air handlers nationwide from August 1992 through December 1995 to distributors who, in turn, sold them to heating, ventilating, and air conditioning dealers. The furnaces and air handlers reportedly were sold to consumers for about $600 to $950. Consumers with recalled furnaces and air handlers should call Rheem's toll-free number (877) 749-6035, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Rheem will provide information on how to arrange to have a qualified service technician repair the unit by installing a new blower assembly, which contains a heating element with improved reliability. Rheem will pay for the new part, as well as provide a labor allowance for its installation.

Hazard

The heating elements in the electric furnaces and air handlers can disintegrate, and expel small particles of molten metal through the duct system and into the living area of the residence. The molten metal particles can ignite nearby combustibles, presenting a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

Rheem has received 16 reports of fires resulting in minor to serious property damage, including one report of a total house fire. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers with recalled furnaces and air handlers should call Rheem's toll-free number (877) 749-6035. Rheem will provide information on how to arrange to have a qualified service technician repair the unit by installing a new blower assembly, which contains a heating element with improved reliability. Rheem will pay for the new part, as well as provide a labor allowance for its installation.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Repair) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.

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